Ep#9 The Girl from Upper Gaborski

[Gabrielle]

You can talk about episode number 9 here.

[jeantre16]

The added snip (at least I don't think it was in the TV version in the US) in the "carriage" scene of J explaining why she had represented herself as an 'aristocrat' when she entered the garrison was priceless!

J makes some comment about Tat's behavior

D comes back with, "like the aristocrat, Jacques Leponte?"

J said she had to introduce herself as an aristocrat. Working men are strong and have broad shoulders. Aristocrats look...

D interrupts with, "like women."

J nods, "yeah."

[kristanci]

I was rather surprised that French kisses were originally started from Gaborski. Is this actually historically true, or was that just made so that Louis could have some action

[vigilanti]

I don't think its a real place, I've seen it as a last name though, Wouldn't it be funny if Tatiana Gaborski was the name of the girl who gave Andre Jacquemetton (the guy who wrote the episode) his first 'real' kiss. Though i imagine Maria Jacquemetton (with whom he co-wrote the episode) might have had a problem with that.

[jeantre16]

I agree with Vigilanti about "Gaborski" being a fictional place. But the mention of the "French kiss" only seemed like a fun addition to the show (just like I played on the "French-cut" Green Beans in my story, Swordplay). Maybe Anon will do a little research on this for us.

[potc166]

I read somewhere that the french call it the english kiss... oh and the prince is a witch with a b..lol...

[queengwen]

ok... I forgot how much suggestiveness was included in this episode... including all the running around in pj's. I did like the end when Louie decides to make a decision on his own and honor his promise reguardless... showed his character was developing abeit slowly, but going in the correct direction.

[thedaringhattrick]

I disliked this episode immensely. The actress that played Tatiana was absolutely horrible with that butchered slavic accent. Where the heck was Upper Gaborski supposed to be, anyway? Present-day Romania?

I felt this episode was far too predictable. A love-sick king, a spoiled princess and the one man who refuses to give into her lewd demands. Tell me if you've heard this one before. I definitely have.

The only saving grace about this episode was the interactions between Siroc, Jacqueline and Ramon while they chased after a very poorly disguised plot-device. Siroc's crushed diamonds; Jacqueline's uncanny imitation of the duchess describing her lost diamonds and Ramon and Siroc's expressions; poor Jacqueline trying to avoid another repeat encounter with Charlotte...

And of course, there was Louis' bumbling attempts at courtship that were as endearing as they were rather pathetic. But I forgive our young King because that's just part of the character... it's princess Tatiana that needed to enroll in a decent acting courses--or demand money back from the ones she supposedly graduated from. *shudder*

[sue]

First, in the first scene, it has already been mentioned about the little conversation between Jacques and D’Artagnan about Jacques’s “aristocracy”, being part of the extras that are on the DVD, but weren’t aired in the US. Still, one wonders…if Jacques looks like an noble, what of D’Artagnan and Ramón, who are both titled nobility???

And, on the note of the extras…the looks passed between D’Artagnan and Captain Duval as the latter, silently, commands him to make a lap for the spoiled princess (still at the cheese monger’s place) …just TOO funny! He looks like…well, SO relieved when there’s a sudden reason to run off and have a swordfight.

There has also been some discussion of exactly WHERE Upper Gaborski would be. Well, the name sounds Polish, maybe Russian. The names are from that region, as well, Olga and Tatiana are very popular names in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus, etc. Still, the “diamonds”…rhinestones...are, well, from the Rhine valley. Of course, they might have been found elsewhere, too, so I'd go with some little unknown kingdom in what is now known as the "former Soviet Republics".

I agree with Daring that the accent is atrocious, and the characters poorly acted. Wonder why she was chosen for the part?

And, then there is that last scene, where they are all bidding farewell to the princess, and she hands the ring to D’Artagnan, then he gives this look, first at the ring, then at the back of Jacques’ head (so, of course, she wouldn’t see what was going through his head) and then pockets the ring.

Diamond rings as engagement rings is a concept that goes back all the way to…well, only about the 1930s! So, he wouldn’t have thought in terms of what was so obvious. And besides, would a guy like D’Artagnan REALLY be thinking of giving a FAKE stone to the woman he loves? REALLY? Fake in ANY case, but to boot, a ring that she KNOWS is FAKE and that was given to HIM?

Somehow, I wonder if the man of honor that he is developing into would even think that way. Hopefully, before he got around to proposing, he would have realized that that ring wouldn’t be the best gift to seal the proposal with.

[thedaringhattrick]

Jan 17, 2009 15:47:47 GMT -5 sue said:

First, in the first scene, it has already been mentioned about the little conversation between Jacques and D’Artagnan about Jacques’s “aristocracy”, being part of the extras that are on the DVD, but weren’t aired in the US. Still, one wonders…if Jacques looks like an noble, what of D’Artagnan and Ramón, who are both titled nobility???

Yeah, but they've both hinted at having grown up in the military. D'Artagnan wouldn't be one to sit at home munching on tea and crumpets, not when he had a famous name to uphold. Ramon, on the other hand, is of Spanish origin. He's got the tanned skinned relatively genetic to his background; he would never be like the pale, dainty-faced French nobility in the first place.

Still, I don't think Jacqueline is making a generalization, only that nobles are more likely (not always) to look a bit more like women. Remember that aritocratic fop she stole the clothes from in the first episode? Or better yet, look at their king!

And, on the note of the extras…the looks passed between D’Artagnan and Captain Duval as the latter, silently, commands him to make a lap for the spoiled princess (still at the cheese monger’s place) …just TOO funny! He looks like…well, SO relieved when there’s a sudden reason to run off and have a swordfight.

I saw that episode on television and I thought that the 'lap' request was a little risque. Tatiana was really coming on to poor d'Artagnan. My civilized nose crinkled a bit at this... and coincidentally, was just as relieved when they got into that tussle.

Check out Jacqueline's looks at the request, by the way! lol.

There has also been some discussion of exactly WHERE Upper Gaborski would be. Well, the name sounds Polish, maybe Russian. The names are from that region, as well, Olga and Tatiana are very popular names in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus, etc. Still, the “diamonds”…rhinestones...are, well, from the Rhine valley. Of course, they might have been found elsewhere, too, so I'd go with some little unknown kingdom in what is now known as the former Soviet Republic.

Upper Gaborski is described as a poor country that just struck it rich because of the diamond mines. Both Poland and Russia were MASSIVE European powers at this time (not to mention the central seat of the Habsburgs), so Mazarin's plot to marry to King off to some insignificant princess to avoid Habsburg influence would backfire terribly.

My guess is still Moldavia (modern day Romania). Those folks had it bad during that time, although I find the references to it as a 'cabbage country', although indirect, and Tatiana's bad acting a bit of a mockery. It was wise of the YB writers not to refer to a specific country.

I agree with Daring that the accent is atrocious, and the characters poorly acted. Wonder why she was chosen for the part?

I recently saw her in an episode of another show in which she plays a girl from yet another made-up country. Same atrocious accent, same ridiculous mock-backward country traditions. Maybe horrible accents are her specialty?

And, then there is that last scene, where they are all bidding farewell to the princess, and she hands the ring to D’Artagnan, then he gives this look, first at the ring, then at the back of Jacques’ head (so, of course, she wouldn’t see what was going through his head) and then pockets the ring.

Diamond rings as engagement rings is a concept that goes back all the way to…well, only about the 1930s! So, he wouldn’t have thought in terms of what was so obvious. And besides, would a guy like D’Artagnan REALLY be thinking of giving a FAKE stone to the woman he loves? REALLY? Fake in ANY case, but to boot, a ring that she KNOWS is FAKE and that was given to HIM?

Did he really look back at Jacqueline? lol. If that's the case, d'Artagnan needs some scolding... and the series writers need to be thwacked with a history textbook.

Somehow, I wonder if the man of honor that he is developing into would even think that way. Hopefully, before he got around to proposing, he would have realized that that ring wouldn’t be the best gift to seal the proposal with.

I doubt d'Artagnan would be proposing any time soon. Although the two of them (Jacqueline and d'Artagnan) make a cute couple, they haven't gone through nearly enough trials together to take that large of a step... not according to the TV Trope bible, anyway.

I've always imagined d'Artagnan sort of giving up on the chase after a while, and growing to understand what it is that Jacqueline really wants. If I got a chance to write the end of the series, I would have made the four of them big enough heroes that the king would pardon Jacqueline and make d'Artagnan the new musketeer captain after Duval's retirement. D'Artagnan would then offer a commission to Jacqueline. Of course, the twist would be that she would mistakenly think that he was proposing and accept, only to realize he just invited her to stay in the garrison as a free woman and a musketeer.

The dialogue would play out something like this:


D'Artagnan frowned at the woman in front of him. In the last couple of moments, he bore witness to a myriad of emotions that had flashed across her lovely features, although now it was painfully evident that she was forcing a smile.

"... You look disappointed." He tilted his head to one side, looking at her, puzzled. Then, as if by magic, a swell of hope bloomed in his chest with a sudden realization. "Wait, were you expecting...?"

"No." Jacqueline scoffed in a manner that was utterly unconvincing. She avoided his gaze. "No," she said again. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

D'Artagnan dared to step a little closer.

"You were, weren't you?" he accused. "And you said... You said....yes?" He blinked, finding himself confused again. He shook his head. "Jacqueline, I thought you wanted this. You wanted to be a musketeer, not a wife."

Jacqueline shrugged, looking at the floor, the ceiling, everywhere but at him. Her stomach was knotting itself. She felt her cheeks go hot.

"What if I changed my mind?" she asked quietly, her feet shuffling. "What if I wanted both?"

D'Artagnan's hand came to rest on her shoulder and Jacqueline looked up, surprised. Her arms uncrossed out of their own accord and she let him pull her towards him. He was wearing his cavalier grin.

"I think that can be arranged..."


.....

Okay, my imagination just ran away with me. Sorry. lol. Would you like some crackers to go with that cheese?

But yeah, no rings.

[sue]

I knEW you'd come back with some good stuff!

Still, I don't think Jacqueline is making a generalization, only that nobles are more likely (not always) to look a bit more like women. Remember that aritocratic fop she stole the clothes from in the first episode? Or better yet, look at their king!

ha ha! Of course, the irony, there, is that it is D'Artagnan who SAYS "...like a woman."

Upper Gaborski is described as a poor country that just struck it rich because of the diamond mines. Both Poland and Russia were MASSIVE European powers at this time (not to mention the central seat of the Habsburgs), so Mazarin's plot to marry to King off to some insignificant princess to avoid Habsburg influence would backfire terribly.

My guess is still Moldavia (modern day Romania). Those folks had it bad during that time, although I find the references to it as a 'cabbage country', although indirect, and Tatiana's bad acting a bit of a mockery. It was wise of the YB writers not to refer to a specific country.

SEAT of the Habsburgs? Russia was Romanov, and the Habsburgs were centered in Vienna! Poland, not really part of Austro-Hungary, or, I'm pretty sure, still the Holy Roman Empire, at that time! I'd have to look it up...

And Moldavia is actually NOT Romania, but Moldova. My niece is living there right now...but then, that brings us back to the first episode, and D'Artagnan's crack about being the Queen of Transylvania!!!

I recently saw her in an episode of another show in which she plays a girl from yet another made-up country. Same atrocious accent, same ridiculous mock-backward country traditions. Maybe horrible accents are her specialty?

LOL! You mean she's actually REALLY an actress? I was kinda pushing for she's someone's girlfriend who wanted to do TV, but has no talent!

Did he really look back at Jacqueline? lol. If that's the case, d'Artagnan needs some scolding... and the series writers need to be thwacked with a history textbook.

yes, quite wistfully. You can just read what he was thinking...and the writers could use a sound thrashing all through the series for their historical knowledge! Already commented on that, though, many times. Not going to rehash anything!

I doubt d'Artagnan would be proposing any time soon. Although the two of them (Jacqueline and d'Artagnan) make a cute couple, they haven't gone through nearly enough trials together to take that large of a step... not according to the TV Trope bible, anyway.

Oh, no! That's why he pockets the ring, but you can see the gears turning...not yet...but someday.

I've always imagined d'Artagnan sort of giving up on the chase after a while, and growing to understand what it is that Jacqueline really wants. If I got a chance to write the end of the series, I would have made the four of them big enough heroes that the king would pardon Jacqueline and make d'Artagnan the new musketeer captain after Duval's retirement. D'Artagnan would then offer a commission to Jacqueline. Of course, the twist would be that she would mistakenly think that he was proposing and accept, only to realize he just invited her to stay in the garrison as a free woman and a musketeer.

No. Never give up hope. I figure SHE would eventually come around, get tired of the musketeer life, yearn to be married and have children (okay, I'm a traditionalist, but most of us eventually DO, you know...propagation of the species and all that...it's hard-wired into us), and they would settle into a nice, bucholic lifestyle not far from Paris, on a piece of property (probably with a nice, if not terribly ostentatious home) that the King gave them as a wedding present.